Volume 5 Issue 2

TO THE COMMUNITIES OF STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL, TRIBECA, AND BATTERY PARK CITY

The Stuyvesant Standard Volume V, Issue 2

September 21, 2005

Hurricane Katrina and its Aftermath

Arista’s Revamped Constitution BY ANNA GINZBURG JUNIOR STAFF WRITER

BY EMMA RABINOVICH STAFF WRITER

which had kept neighboring Lake Pontchartrain from pouring into the city, broke. By September 7, there were

TSS/Katie Banks

Hurricane Katrina was classified as a Category 4 hurricane, which is the second most severe category. It gained speed and strength as it past the Gulf of Mexico, destroying parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama. It hit Louisiana on August 29, devastating the densely populated Louisiana city of New Orleans. Though some evacuation measures were taken, thousands were killed in Katrina’s Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans in over 20 feet of water in some parts of the city. path. With winds averaging 145 miles per hour, Hurricane Katrina covered the city with only about 10,000 people remainenough rainfall to cover residening in the city as officials threattial houses’ rooftops. Much of the city was flooded after levees, Continued on Page 2

Americans Commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of 9/11 BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER OUT OF SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR On September 11th, 2005, people from across the nation gathered to commemorate the terrorist attacks four years ago. The anniversary came in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation; yet Americans managed to come together to mourn and remember. One of the largest ceremonies took place at the former site of the World Trade Center. Mayor Michael Bloomberg opened the ceremony, saying “As we recite the names of those lost, our hearts turn as well toward London, our sister city. And to the Americans suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our deepest sympathies go out to you.” New York Governor George Pataki, Secretary of State Condolezza Rice,

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an d fo r m e r Mayor Rudolph Giuliani also spoke. Rice read a piece by the 19thcentury poet Christina Rossetti. Giuliani said, “We all stand together to help each other and to help those who need our help in the future. We remember forever all the brothers and sisters that we People gathered at the former World Trade lost on that Center site in a ceremony of remembrance. day.”

The ceremony lasted for hours, as relatives of the lost read the names of the 2,749 victims. As the names were read, mourners walked down the ramp to a memorial pool. They filled it with roses and wrote messages to their loved ones on the side of the pool. Four moments of silence were observed, one at the time that

Associated Press

INSIDE THIS ISSUE -------------News.....................2-3 Business................4-5 Opinions................4-5 Literary.................6

Science..............................6-7 Puzzles……………….......7-8 Arts & Entertainment........9 Sports................................10-12

each tower was struck, and another at the time each building fell. In Washington D.C., President Bush and his wife marched with thousands of others on the White House’s South Lawn.. Bush later attended services at St. John’s Episcopal Church with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife. A few miles away, another memorial commemorated those who died in the attack on the Pentagon. After a moment of silence, mourners sang “God Bless America”. . “I'm here to show support for our military and represent 9/11 families in support of the military's effort to crush the scourge of terrorism in the world,” said Mark Burlingame. His brother was the pilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. A fourth ceremony was held in Pennsylvania at the site where Flight 93 crashed after being hijacked. That flight, probably targeting the Capitol or the White Continued on Page 2

NOAA

ald. This is meant to bring more attention to the Herald, which has often been ignored. The election process has been updated. Under the new constitution, the applications for each position will be reviewed by the

The constitution of Arista, the Stuyvesant chapter of the National Honor Society, has been revised this year. The officer list has been updated, and the responsibilities of each of the officers are now clearly stated. Parts of the constitution dealing with dismissal have been revised. The article of the constitution describing the Faculty Council Board members, including Arista President Emi Suzuki, has been removed center, getting ready for a meeting. because contact between the students and the Facpresident and the current holder ulty Council has become less freof the position. Together they quent. However, they do acwill choose the three most qualiknowledge and appreciate the fied candidates. Previously the support that is received from the president was the only person faculty advisors. who reviewed application, and A new article has been added the process was not described in for Arista’s newspaper, the Herthe constitution. ◙

Free

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September 21, 2005 News

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Hurricane Katrina and its Aftermath Continued from Page 1

Executive Leadership Team DR. JOHN NIKOL WINNIE LEE SHO UEMURA JESSICA THAM WINNIE DU JACOB ARLUCK LAURA HAN JENNIFER SCHLESINGER YANJ IE HOU JENNIFER WONG OSMAN NEMLI DEEP PARIKH MELISSA CHAN LADA KUKUY KAREN LIU KATIE BANKS DANIEL EGERS (‘03) ERNEST BASKIN (‘04)

FACULTY ADVISER EDITOR IN CHIEF M ANAGING EDITOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LAYOUT EDITOR COPY CHIEF IN SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR OUT OF SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR BUSINESS EDITOR LITERARY EDITOR WEBMASTER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOJOURNALISM FOUNDER EDITOR EMERITUS

Publication THE STUYVESANT STANDARD is a nonprofit and nonpartisan publication produced by the students of Stuyvesant High School. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD distributes 2,000 free copies on a bi-weekly basis to the students and faculty of Stuyvesant High School and throughout the adjoining neighborhoods of TriBeCa and Battery Park City. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD welcomes letters from its readers. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD reserves the right to edit any published material. The viewpoints of contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Standard staff. Copyright ©2005 THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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ened evacuation by force. The water was subsiding, but very slowly, because only five of the 148 water pumps in New Orleans were working. The water was full of debris which made it necessary to clean the water pumps. The water remains highly toxic and is carrying disease all over the city. President Bush accepted full responsibility for the catastrophic results of the hurricane. Katrina only further hurt his decision to make his long-time friend Michael Brown the director of FEMA, who resigned soon after the hurricane struck. The following weeks were marked by a series of concerts trying to raise the money desperately needed for people left with-

out the necessities. These included the “Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast” and “ReAct Now: Music & Relief Concert.” The performers included Green Day, Usher, Alicia Keyes and Kelly Clarkson. When the president visited the area on September 15, he made an address to the nation outlining the most expensive rebuilding project in United States history that would cost the country billions. Some disagreed with some of his suggestions, saying that the project should not be paid for by citizens all over the country. The president’s plan covers not only the necessities that are now gone from the area, but also the rebuilding of New Orleans’s glamorous look and sites such as Jackson Square. ◙

Americans Commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of 9/11 Continued from Page 1

House, crashed after passengers mounted at attack on the hijackers. “The first heroes of 9/11 were here,” said speaker Brian Rohrbaugh. In New Orleans, New York firefighters helping with the hurricane relief efforts gathered

around a makeshift memorial to honor their comrades killed on September 11th.. Other rescue workers paused to remember, including the fire department of Biloxi, Mississippi, also damaged by Katrina. “Now we can relate,” said Deputy Biloxi Fire Chief Kirk Noffsinger. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Page 3

September 21, 2005 News

A New Year, Another Year

Freshmen excited about their first year at Stuy.

BY APRIL DALEY STAFF WRITER On September 8th, 2005 at eight-forty five, over three thousand Stuyvesant students trudged once again through the halls of Stuyvesant High School. For all, it was a return to school, and for some, the beginning of high school. The new year brought with it new classes, new teachers, and new potential friends. For upperclassmen, it is another year to prepare for college, while for lowerclassmen, it is another year experience high school with its many opportunities. Some, like sophomore Yuen Mei Lui, thought the first day was an unexpectedly abrupt close to a relaxing summer vacation. “I was

having so much fun this summer that I didn’t really expect to come back to Stuy so soon,” she said. But most seemed resigned to the school year starting anewhas and thought more about their classes than receding distant summer. “I have a good schedule with good teachers. I’m satisfied,” said junior Farooq Zafar. This attitude seemed to be the sentiments of most students. “The first few days haven’t been too hard and my teachers are okay, like not crazy insane”, reflected freshman Taylor Shung. Students look forward to other events later in the school year. “I can’t wait until next year”, added Shung. Junior Ilona Lazis ecstatically looks forward to the “joys of SING!” ◙

TSS/Jennifer Wong

Jets Grounded After Deadly Crash bers on the ill-fated flight. Minutes after takeoff, the Jakartabound plane caught fire, and crashed into a crowded road in the Pedang Bulan residential area. The crash incinerated nearby houses and cars, killing 47 people on the ground , for a total of 149 casualties. Officials said 15 passengers sitting in the tail section of the plane managed to escape the wreckage, including a 17-

True to its name, the Chinese Pop Culture Club showcases popular songs, artists, movies and TV shows in Chinese culture. Every other week the club highlights an "Artist of the Week" introducing the artist and his or her album to those interested. CPCC lets anyone interested in Chinese music meet fellow enthusiasts. Meetings are casual and laidback - a perfect way to unwind from a tiring day of classes. Members can bring in instruments and sing their own songs. The club also hosts karaoke sessions for those who love to sing. CPCC updates members on the latest news in Chinese pop culture on an Internet forum,

which features message boards on both music and general-interest topics. The website offers downloads of music and music videos. Dedicated members are rewarded with CDs, DVDs or posters. ◙ Hank Zhong is the President of the Chinese Pop Culture Club. If you are interested in joining the club and receiving information about future CPCC meetings, please contact Hank Zhong at [email protected]. If you are interested in having your club featured in "Club Spotlight," please email [email protected].

Chinese Pop Culture Club

A deadly plane crash in the northern Indonesian city of Medan has led to the grounding of four similar Boeing 737-200s on technical concerns. Indonesian authorities made the decision after conducting safety checks on the all the nation’s airliners. Planes operated by four different Indonesian carriers were declared “unworthy” for take-off. Investigators found wheel system problems and brake deficiencies. “The Crowds gather around an four Boeing engine of the crashed plane. 7 3 7 - 2 0 0 planes had to be grounded temporarily until they have been month old girl and her mother. repaired as recommended by in“The plane actually had taken spectors in the field,” Hatta Radoff, but somehow it started to jasa, Indonesia’s Transport Minshake heavily and swerved to the ister, told reporters. left and then wham, a ball of fire The inspections were a recame from the front of the plane sponse to the crash of privately toward the end,” a fortunate surowned low-cost vivor told reMandala Airporters in a lines’s Flight Planes operated by four hospital emer091 on Septemgency room. different Indonesian ber 5th. It was authoricarriers were declared Local the nation’s ties have recovworst air disasunworthy for takeoff. ered the plane’s ter since a Gatwo flight data ruda Indonesia recorders, plane hit a probably containing the keys to mountain near Medan in North unraveling the causes of the acciSumatra 8 years ago, killing all dent. Asril Tanjung, director of 234 people on board. Mandala Airlines, discounted the Mandala Airlines’s Boeing possibility of terrorism, saying 737 jet, which had been in service that pilot error or engine failure for nearly 25 years, carried 112 likely caused the crash. ◙ passengers and five crew mem-

BY HANK ZHONG SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Club Spotlight

BY DEREK WENG JUNIOR STAFF WRITER

Chinese Pop Culture Club

Agence France-Presse

Chinese Pop Culture Club’s forum, the source of all the latest news, music, and music videos for its members.

Unofficial Pizzeria of Stuyvesant

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September 21, 2005 Business/Opinions

The Unseen Effects of Katrina’s Fury

United States Navy

Continued on Page 5

Hong Kong Disneyland: A Success or a Failure? BY SARA LEE SENIOR STAFF WRITER Almost everyone has been to a Disney theme park, seen a Disney movie or fallen in love with a Disney character. Disney is a part of everyone’s life, and more child r e n wor l d wi d e r ec o gni z e Mickey Mouse than the Christian cross. For this reason, and more pecuniary other reasons, Disney in 1999 decided to open a theme park in Hong Kong. To most people the phrase “theme park” suggests roller coasters and haunted houses, but to those managing one there are difference concerns. Above all, creating Hong Kong Disneyland took money. The government of Hong Kong put up US$2.9 billion and Disney itself invested $320 million. Many in Hong Kong objected to the government spending this

Why Strand Around Doing Nothing? lighting was superb, the small stairs were widened, an elevator was added, the bag-check area Coming home from Turkey was replaced with cash registers. after two months of abStrand’s thrillsence from this great ingly vast seleccity, I was determined to tion of books was check out attractions still there, though, near Union Square. Last and that was the week I went to Strand most important Bookstore, one of my thing. favorites in the city. The Like any makefirst thing I noticed was over, Strand’s the huge Strand banner new look has both flying above the semibenefits and run down storefront, just drawbacks. Allike I remembered it. though accessibilOutside were the famility has been iniar shelves full of barcreased and the gain books. I couldn’t store looks pretty walk in the way I had and new, it has before, though. The The Strand bookstore has been a fixture in the city for decades. lost much of the main entrance was flair that once closed and a side door attracted me to the used instead. With some apprestore more than its competitors. the lack of an elevator, and the hension, I walked in. Strand has not only become too outdated bag-check area were all Inside, I felt like I’d just met commercialized, it has lost much gone. The English style ceiling an old friend after his major plasof the quirky essence hat made it was now plain white, I felt a blast tic surgery. I was both impressed, unique. ◙ of arctic air conditioning, the depressed. Strand had changed. The wooden ceiling, the old lighting reminiscent of 19th-century gaslights, the small rickety stairs,

BY OSMAN NEMLI SPORTS EDITOR

Mi New York Personal

These energy spikes will also drive up the price of shipping and were largely responsible for the recent filings for bankruptcy protection of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines. Similar effects were observed in around the world. In Germany, the price of gasoline rose to the equivalent of $6.70 per gallon. The Indonesian rupiah fell to a four-year low against the dollar as the government announced that fuel subsidies would have to be stopped. In Thailand, thousands of fishing boats stopped operating due to lack of fuel, and the gov-

much money on such a project, given that Hong Kong’s economy has been in doldrums since the SARS scare last year. Mickey and Minnie celebrate the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. Agence France-Presse

government more than $200 billion and could reach $300 billion. Estimates of the cost to insurance There was one place no one companies made by various risk wanted to be on the last Tuesday assessment firms and government of August: New Orleans. Hurriagencies range from $14 billion cane Katrina, a Category 4 leviato $60 billion. than of death, remade New OrHow much will Hurricane leans and surrounding areas. AfKatrina affect the economy in the ter the city’s weak levees suclong run? Aside from the direct damages, Katrina also This Exxon station in Louisiana remained open decaused 500,000 to 1 spite a collapsed roof. Meanwhile, gasoline prices are million people to be soaring because of Katrina. unemployed, increasing the national unemployment rate from 4.9 to 5.2 percent. Even though millions of dollars are being used to create jobs for these people, many will still be unemployed. Some believe that the rebuilding of New Orleans will boost the economy, while others believe it will draw cumbed and the pumping system resources away from parts of the failed, water flowed from economy where they would be of neighboring Lake Pontchartrain more use. and the Mississippi River, turning Other elements that will add the city into a 20-foot deep bathpressures to inflation include agtub of sewage. Meanwhile, the riculture losses and energy losses. government was trying to keep up Hurricane damages to farmwith the needs of the thousands of related industries will cost more refugees crammed into the Superthan $2 billion ($1 billion in didome and was spending 2 billion rect damages to crops and livedollars a day that first weekend stock and another $1 billion in on meals, trailers, and contracts increased shipping costs and fuel to rebuild highways and bridges. prices) and could increase food Although this amount per day is prices. Because of huge losses at decreasing the past week, the New Orleans warehouses and devastation is expected to cost the

BY BENNETT HONG STAFF WRITER

roasting plants, coffee prices could surge from the current $1 a pound to $1.45 in the near future. Fuel prices took a heavier hit. By destroying oil refineries and oil drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina shut down a large portion of American oil and gas production, sending already high fuel prices even higher. The average price of unleaded gasoline rose 15 cents to $2.86 per gallon in less than a week, costing consumers an additional $57 million per day. Heating costs are predicted to increase by 71 percent for users of natural gas and 31 percent for heating oil users.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Others object to the resort’s location. The theme park is on Lantau Island, one of the few green areas in the bustling megalopolis. Fish breed in the nearby waters and dolphins search for food. Environmentalists fear that theme park will damage this natural preserve. Yet Hong Kong Disneyland has brought thousands of new jobs to Hong Kong. About 6,000 people helped build the park, about 18,000 will be hired to staff it, and park builders estimate that some 35,000 jobs will be created by 2025. Hong Kong currently has 5.7% unemployment, high for the region. Proponents argue that an estimated five million annual tourists will bring more money into the local economy. Shows in English, Cantonese and Mandarin will be offered, in an attempt to appeal to locals, mainland-Chinese visitors and foreign tourists. A 1,400 room Disney themed hotel will hold the expected crowds. Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-Wah said that the park will bring “substantial long-term economic returns.” ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

First Bit of Advice BY DAVID WANG ALUMNUS WRITER So. All you seniors at Stuy are now going through the hysteriainducing yet necessary ritual of college applications. The smart ones have already planned everything out, and have already completed the first drafts of their essays (never mind the fifth and sixth). Then there are the select few who plan to be like me, and won’t start until the weekend before the due date. Well, guess what? If you obsess over college, your life will be pain until April. If you barely manage to finish before the deadline, good for you. Now you can wonder whether a few extra weeks of looking over your application could have helped, and when you get your pretty little rejection letters, you’ll wonder whether you would have gotten into Harvard and MIT had you begun working on the hundred-page applications back in grade school. You’ll also begin to wonder

their five million-dollar scholarships from every company imaginable, enough money to pay the full tuition at Yale for the next three whether you could have gotten million years? those extra ten points on your SAT Let’s cut to the chase. Stop had you not woke up late on test worrying so much, because college day, and whether you should have really isn’t as great as it’s made put in 5,000 more hours of comout to be. Okay, that’s a lie. But munity service, since the 5,000 seriously, as high school seniors, you had already stop stressing sounded awful If you obsess over col- out so much. compared to just By now, you lege, your life will be know who’s about every other college applicant probably getpain until April. on the planet. ting into which They all had the school, and time to handle twenty AP classes, who’s not. I can guarantee you that five internships with Fortune 500 there will be quite a few surprises, companies, to play sixty-two difbut overall, natural selection will ferent musical instruments at Cartake its course. If you don’t get negie Hall and still had enough into Yale, I’m sure you’ll be able time to cure cancer. Did I forget to convince your parents that those three hundred clubs you’re Princeton is just as good. If your supposedly in, even though you’re parents are Asian, however, my not actually sure what they do and condolences – if you don’t get into whether they’ve actually met in the Harvard or MIT, you’re toast. past three years? You’re the PresiI’m serious. Enjoy senior year. dent, Chairman, and Secretary of Enjoy watching the little freshmen Defense of 70 of them, aren’t you? squirm around the halls, not stopAnyway, even if you have all ping until June, by which time you these qualifications, how can you probably won’t even know what ignore all those kids making the classes you’re taking. Stop looking financial aid offices happy with

ahead at the frat parties. They’ll be there every night. There’ll be plenty of upperclassmen handing out flyers reading “21 and over”, despite the fact that you’re a 4’10” Asian girl with a twenty pound book bag, braces, and a Freshman Orientation T-shirt. Don’t let your scores define you. Make yourself stand out. Be special. Make the admissions officer reading your application remember you. Don’t be Mr. Perfect Grades #594. Be yourself. It’s a cliché but it’s true. The difference between a 2350 SAT with no personality and a 2300 SAT whose application exudes intellect, enthusiasm, and curiosity is much bigger than the difference between a 2350 and a 2360. When it’s time for your interview, show that you’re not just another sheep. Even if your numbers are high, don’t jump at every chance to mention them. Talk about things that really interest you, and things that will really interest the college. Don’t ignore your grades and scores, but show that you are more than a score, and show that you are aware of it. If you really have nothing special to say about yourself, who can you blame but yourself? ◙

Creationism Posing as Science

BY CARITAS DOHA STAFF WRITER No history teacher teaches that the Pyramids were created by aliens. But a few people think that such monumental works of architecture were beyond the abilities of the Egyptians, and that some higher power must have helped them. Yet we aren’t told this in history class Why? Because no historian would allow a notion completely unsupported by facts to be taught in the classroom. ET is out of the history books for now, but Christian conservatives are fighting to force schools to teach the “theory” of Intelligent Design as an alternative to evolution. It’s part of their “Teach the Controversy” program, justified with the noblesounding purpose of broadening students’ minds. The problem is that ID is not a scientific theory, because it is not supported by scientific evidence. The core tenet of ID is that certain biological structures, such as the mammalian eye or the set of proteins that allow blood to

Page 5

September 21, 2005 Business/Opinions

vocates don’t present their results scientifically suggests that they are more interested in popular appeal then changing scientific minds, and also that what they are doing simply isn’t science. Secondly, key to the scientific method is the idea that any theory must be falsifiable: there must be some imaginable set of o b s e r va t i o n s that would disprove it. As the non-existence of God or other transcendent entity is unprovable, ID is a belief, not a theory. The results are clear: less than 1% of scientists support intelligent design, and nearly all don’t consider it a valid theory. This “controversy” has also been addressed before by the courts. Epperson v. Advocates of intelligent design even used the documenArkansas, a 1968 decitary "March of the Penguins" to support their claims. sion, held that a state

clot, are “irreducibly complex,” so some non-random entity must have intervened in their development. There are two problems with this. First, virtually no advocates of ID have published their arguments and data in peerreviewed journals. This is how scientists communicate and consider new proposals. That ID ad-

could not mandate teaching religious creation in lieu of evolution. In 1989, Edwards v. Aguillard declared that “creation science,” a less developed form of ID, was not science but religion and thus prohibited by the First Amendment. It did suggest that “a variety of scientific theories about the origins of humankind [should be taught] to schoolchildren”. But since no serious scientist accepts Intelligent Design as a scientific theory , this case does not apply. There is no dispute among scientists about intelligent design. We should not “teach the controversy” because there is no controversy. Over 99% of scientists support evolution. Why would we want to teach students something that is not science? We have taken great strides against teaching unscientific “theories” in schools. To start teaching intelligent design now would be to take a great leap backwards. ◙

BBC

The Unseen Effects of Katrina’s Fury Continued from Page 4

ernment mandated that billboards could only be illuminated for three hours a day and required that gas stations to close at night in order to conserve energy. Although an increase in unemployment and inflation in addition to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina with definitely slow down American economic

growth in the second half of the year, it is unlikely that the aftermath will put the country into a recession. Many economists estimate that the storm will reduce the American economy’s rate of growth by one percentage point, from 3.5 percent. However, this loss will be offset next year by billions of dollars in government and private funding for reconstruction and recovery. Oil prices

have already begun to fall, and the stock market is approaching pre-Katrina levels. Some analysts liken the effects of Katrina to those of the September 11 terrorist attacks. However, the economy before Katrina was doing much better than in 2001 and is expected to absorb the impact more effectively. John Silvia, the chief economist for the Wachovia Cor-

poration, said, “The background to when this hit is an economy that was doing quite well. That’s a very, very different backdrop from 9/11.” According to Mark Zandi, the chief economist for Economy.com, “the key here is consumer and business confidence. If consumers pull back, then business will follow and this could turn into a much more significant problem. If consumers hang tough, the economy probably will be O.K.”◙

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September 21, 2005 Literary/Science

BY ANONYMOUS shudder A strong wind blows my way Gray clouds loom over the horizon Swings at the park emptying quickly The mother bird cuddles her young Alas! The coming of rain has spoiled my day Wait! What's that? A glint of sunlight in the distance Its shine brighter than the darkest cloud So that the coming of rain Will not spoil my day

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BY CAROLINE HUGH SENIOR STAFF WRITER i should give up writing it's like some sort of masochism ha ha snip snip jagged edge look at me fail look at me fall again it’s not about love it never was love it's about the stench that crawls out of sewers and nestles in my mind you will never free me you will never strip me to the delicate curl of smoke i am ravage me take away my goods because i will forget you i will erase my mind the world may heave its last but i will still be a shell swaying in the breeze

BY SUSANNAH GILBERT STAFF WRITER

i dangle good i die good by good-bye.

One thing Could be a personal An object A symbol Sometimes It can represent Your Faith To the person you love But how can you show faith When all that matters Is what you say? It is not what you say But what you do So what can I do To show my faith to you?

BY KEVIN SMITH STAFF WRITER A lady in the window? What can she be doing there? Stepping back and forth With elegant flowing hair Are you here for just a week? Would you stay longer if I wasn't so meek? But understand lovely lady I'm only here just to sleep Lady in the window Come out to me Let the two of us play Before either of us must leave We are both alone Going through our lives as shown But I shouldn't pray for a chance meeting And stay sitting by the phone Goodbye lady in the window I have become one of your fans But sitting here has made me bored It's time to play in the sand

Treating Cancer with RNA Nanotechnology RNA carries genetic messages and can be used directly for therapy. Scientists used pRNA strands, which can be linked to other types of RNA strands with specific properties. Researchers bonded pRNA to these other types, forming triangular particles some 25 to 40 nanometers wide. The new technology has been shown to block cancer development in living mice and also in-

BY DEEP PARIKH SCIENCE EDITOR

A new method to get therapeutic agents inside of cancer cells promises to make anticancer medications more effective. Scientists created a new type of RNA molecule that is able to enter cells bearing a “payload” of other therapeutic RNA strands that initiate apoptosis – cellular suicide – in cancerous cells. Trials in mice and in human tissue cells have been successful. Research leader Peixuan Guo said "RNA has immense promise as a therapeutic agent against cancer, but until now we have not had an efficient system to This nanoparticle, made up of three b ri n g mul t i p le strands of RNA, may help fight cancer. therapeutic agents directly into specific cancer cells where they can terferes with the growth of breast perform different tasks". Cellular cancer in lab grown human cell membranes are like national borcultures. ders, only letting in certain apScientists need to be comproved chemicals through wellpletely certain that the treatment controlled gates, and it is difficult only targets cancerous cells. The to sneak therapeutic agents past stability of the pRNA and its abilthe border. The new treatment ity to survive enzymes that uses RNA strands of just the right threaten to degrade it remains a size and shape to pass through the problem. Nonetheless, the remembrane, with medication in search is very promising. ◙ tow. Science Daily

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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September 21, 2005 Science/Puzzles

Gobi Desert Exploration BY TOBIAZ ZIELINKSI SENIOR STAFF WRITER “The stuff is here” exclaimed a paleontologist exploring the Gobi Desert in 1922, when asked why he was exploring such a desolate place. Even more than 80 years later the Gobi remains an area rich in geological and paleontological treasures. The Gobi is part of Mongolia, which was ruled by Communists from the mid-1920’s until 1990. American scientists were finally allowed to explore the desert in that year. They worked with little progress until 1993, when they began to unearthed

Dr. Narmandakh, a Mongolian Scientist, examines a promising site in the Gobi Desert.

bustling community, rich in plants, insects and some of the first mammals. Recent Gobi have uncovered more and more mammals. “It isn’t like anything we’ve found here before” commented Dr. Mike Novacek, the leader of a recent expedition, about the most important find. About the size of a rabbit, with long hind legs and a snout with huge teeth, it is believed to be a eutherian, an early ancestor of humans. After wrapping it in gauze and wet plaster, scientists will transport it into a laboratory where it will undergo further tests. Finding the fossil is the easy part, as for every month in the field scientists need at least 11 to interpret and understand the new finds. ◙

many fossils, mammals and lizards. One of the most impressive finds was a fossilized embryo inside a dinosaur nest. Excavations paused in 2001 in order to allow wind and rain to erode some material that might be covering more fossils. Scientists now believe that this combination of water and wind is responsible for the abundant well-preserved fossils in the Gobi. One theory suggests that violent sandstorms buried living creatures alive, another proposes that simultaneous sand- and rainstorms caused sand dunes to become saturated with water, eventually collapsing and burying everything around them. A common misconception is that only dinosaurs lived in the Gobi. In reality the area was a

Mongolia Today

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In the Woods

Last Issue’s Solution Crossword Puzzle R

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BY MONICA LUK STAFF WRITER

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September 21, 2005 Puzzle

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Crossword Puzzle

The Beach

BY JESSIE LUK SENIOR STAFF WRITER 1

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Across 1. Manservant 6. Gettysburg Address, e.g. 12. Atmosphere layer 13. Reno inhabitant 15. Bad milk 16. Washstand item 17. 6, to Julius 18. Unit of area 19. “_____” all folks 21. April dread 22. Banker’s action 24. Get by 25. Don’t (2 words) 26. Frigid 28. President after Carter 30. Audition tape 32. In due time 33. Extends 35. And so on (abbr.) 36. Generations 37. Scandinavian first name 39. Injured pup’s cry 43. Author Deighton 44. Fall zodiac sign 46. Albania’s cont. 47. Plural ending 48. Diamond source 49. Actor Peter 51. Type of clam 53. Zodiac sign 54. Most devious 55. Bird chow

Instructions Unscramble the words and

combine the letters with a number underneath it to form a message. fdrasubonrig __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 1

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BY KARIN FENG ASSOCIATE WRITER

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Be the Final Step Join The Stuyvesant Standard Layout Department [email protected]

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THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Page 9

September 21, 2005 Arts & Entertainment

Seen a good movie lately? An interesting exhibit? Arts show? Concert? If so, send your review to: [email protected]

Fall Movie Previews BY JENNIFER WONG ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Back to school got you down? Here are some movies to look forward to during the fall season to take away those end-ofsummer blues.

Entertainment Weekly

September 23 Corpse Bride Tim Burton uses stop-motion puppetry to tell the story of a man (voiced by Johnny Depp) who accidentally betroths himself to a dead woman (Helena Bonham Carter) while preparing marriage vows meant for his still-alive fiancée (Emily Watson). It’s Burton’s first animated feature since “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in 1993.

causes on June 27. Expect to see sex, drugs, rock and roll and a lot of violence from this movie. Elizabethtown After receiving a mix tape from a stewardess (played by Kirsten Dunst), workaholic Drew (played by Orlando Bloom) drives into the American heartland to find out the meaning of life. October 28

Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst star in “Elizabethtown.” Paramount Pictures

The Legend of Zorro It's been seven long years since the release of “The Mask of Zorro”, but the long wait shouldn’t deter fans from watching the sequel this October. Antonio Banderas’ character puts on his cape again when a new villain arises and his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) mysteriously disappears.

A Not So Unfortunate Event ans into handing Count Olaf the orphans’ fortune. Yet the clever and cunning (but very unlucky) It all began with “The Bad Baudelaire children outwit Count Beginning.” In 1999, author LemOlaf only to find themselves reloony Snicket broke from the hackcated to another clueless guardian neyed “and they lived happily who falls prey ever after” to Count Olaf’s theme dominasty schemes. nant in chilThe book condren’s stories cludes with a with the first sad ending, just wonderfull y like the author grim “A Sewarned. And ries of Unforyet readers cont u n a t e tinue to devour E v e n t s ” these stories in novel. Dehopes that the spite the Baudelaire chilwarning “If dren will one you are interday live in ested in stopeace. ries with It’s been a year happy endsince the last ings, you book, “T he would be Grim Grotto,” better off was released, reading some and fans still other book” have no clue on the back what lies ahead Author Daniel Handler, cover of for the Baudea.k.a. Lemony Snicket. every book, laire orphans. the release of Although the the second to books may be last book of the series, with a written at a 4th grade reading still-undisclosed title, is one of level and the “don’t read this horthe most highly anticipated reribly sickening story” gimmick leases this fall. gets old, Lemony Snicket weaves The series follows orphans a tale as enchanting Harry Potter Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudeand as bleak as a Grimm Brothers laire through their many troubles fairy tale. It is hard to resist the with their evil former guardian morbid charm of Snicket’s books. Count Olaf and his wanton acting On October 18th, children, teens troupe minions. In each book, and adults alike will buy this deCount Olaf attempts to trick the lightfully dismal book. ◙ orphans’ often dimwitted guardi-

BY CHRISTINE ZHUANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER

San Fransisco Chronicle

Johnny Depp voices Victor, the main character in "Corpse Bride."

September 30 Serenity Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” describes his feature-film directing debut as a story of “a nobody crew aboard a crappy little spaceship.” Fans of Whedon’s prematurely cancelled TV series “Firefly” will be delighted to know that this movie is an adaptation of the series on to the big screen. The story focuses on the ship’s most troubled member, River, a teen subjected to government experimentation. Into the Blue Jessica Alba and Paul Walker star in the action-packed adventure. Alba and Walker race to claim six billion dollars’ worth of treasures buried in the Caribbean before bad guy Tyson Beckford gets his hands on the loot. October 14 Domino This drama features an all-stars Keira Knightley, Jacqueline Bisset, Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken. “Domino” is based on the adventures of modelturned-bounty hunter Domino Harvey, who died of unknown

November 11 Rent For only $10, less for a matinee, you can enjoy the big-screen adoption of the beloved Broadway musical, featuring most of the original cast members from the stage version.

The movie version of “Rent” includes most of the original cast members from the stage version. Sony Pictures Digital Inc.

November 18 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Fans of the Harry Potter series will be pleased to know that they don’t have to wait another two years to get their Harry Potter fix. The fourth installment of the Harry Potter movies has Harry enter a dangerous wizarding contest. Because “The Goblet of Fire” is significantly longer in plot than the previous three books, expect many plot details from the book to be left out of the movie. ◙

Join the Stuyvesant Picnic 2005 Sponsored by The Stuyvesant High School Parents’ Association Friday, Sept. 23—6 to 9pm Pier 25—Walk north along the river to the pier just north of school. The entire Stuy community is welcome: Parents, Guardians, Faculty, Stuy Students, Staff and Siblings. Enjoy meeting members of the Stuy community, playing Miniature Golf and Beach Volleyball and Music (included in entrance fee). Buy tickets the week of the event at school for $4 a person or at the door

at Pier 25 for $6 a person. Food: Combination of potluck to share with family and friends or at the concession stand. Visit stuypa.org for more information. For Advance Ticket Sales: Students can bring Check made out to the Stuyvesant PA with Reservation Forms to the PA office—Room 271—Attn: Peggy Harvey. Drop the envelope in a box marked WELCOME PICNIC in the office.

Page 10

September 21, 2005 Sports

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

2005-2006 NBA Regular Season Predictions: The Eastern Conference mand the basketball, and Dwyane Wade won’t mind having the ball either. In a team dominated by With the 2005-2006 NBA Shaq, it will be interesting to see season less than two months how it plays out. away, I thought I’d look ahead to The Heat will also have trouwhom the possible playoff conble because their competition has tenders might be. The San Antogotten stronger. The Piston’s nio Spurs will look to defend new head coach Flip Saunders rd their title for the 3 time in 7 will lead the same core group of years, and it looks like they’ll players that brought a championhave no trouble repeating. A couship to the Motor City two seaple of key off-season moves have sons ago, and lost in seven games only made them stronger, while to the Spurs in last season’s fiseveral of the league’s elite teams nals. But the Pistons will only have made risky transactions in finish second in the Central Divian attempt to keep pace. Let’s sion because the Indiana Pacers start by looking at my predictions will be welcoming back Ron for the Eastern Conference: Artest, after last years fiasco The Miami Heat was the where he punched a Detroit fan “Beast of the East” last season, for throwing a beer cup at his but injuries to Shaq and Dwyane head. Wade left them just short of the The most interesting division NBA Finals, losing in Game 7 to to watch in the Eastern Conferthe Detroit Pistons. Shaq’s new ence will be our very own Atlancontract with the Heat during the tic Division. The Knicks hired off-season gave the team enough veteran head coach Larry Brown financial to help bring flexibility to some luster back make the bigThe Knicks hired vetto the sorry exgest trade in cuse of a basketeran head coach Larry NBA history. ball team that is Brown to help bring The 5-team, the New York 13-player some lust back to the Knickerbockers. trade sent AnThe team traded sorry excuse of a bastoine Walker, long-time Knick Jason Wilketball team that is the Kurt Thomas to liams, and the Phoenix Suns New York Knicks James Posey for reigning to the Heat, three-point conwhile Miami gave up just two test champion Quentin Richardsecond-round draft picks, Eddie son, a move which made the Jones and Rasual Butler. Heat Knicks younger and more athcoach Stan Van Gundy will have letic. The Knicks also made exhis hands full bringing all the cellent draft picks on draft night, new parts together, even without but did little to alleviate the glut Heat owner Pat Riley breathing at the shooting guard position. down his neck. Shaquille O’Neal, A couple of other teams to Jason Williams, and Antoine watch in the division are the Walker are players who all de-

BY STALLONE MANNON STAFF WRITER

BY MATTHEW O’CONNOR STAFF WRITER For a team that dominated its division, if not all of baseball, for the better part of the past decade, the Yankees this year are not meeting fan expectations. A year after losing the pennant to the Red Sox for the first time in 86 years, the 2005 Yankees are struggling just to reach the playoffs. But even if the Yankees win the division or scrape by with a wild card, if the Yankees continue to play like they have all season, they won’t last very long in the playoffs. At the beginning of the season the Yankees suffered from not just a general lack of offense, but from the lack of consistent hitters in their lineup. The offense turned itself around, thanks to calling up Robinson Cano, a

win the Atlantic Division will be the Boston Celtics. The Division winner from last year is young, athletic, and talented. Look for veteran Paul Pierce to re-emerge as an All-Star and lead his team to the playoffs, now that he doesn’t have to pass the ball to AnPhiladelphia 76ers and the New toine Walker. Jersey Nets. Both teams made big While the Washington Wizards have no chance to win the Southeast Division (Miami is a lock), they will make the playoffs. The Wizards traded away the disappointing Kwame Brown to the Lakers and acquired Chucky Atkins and Caron Butler in the deal. While they lost free agent Larr y Hughes to the Cavaliers, they were able to sign Antonio Daniels as a replacement. It seems promising for the Wizards to finish Larry Brown will be coaching the Knicks this season. with nearly as strong a record as last year’s. Overall, the Eastern Confertrades mid-season last year, acence picture looks something like quiring Chris Webber and Vince this: (1) Indiana Pacers, (2) MiCarter, respectively. Allen Iverami Heat, (3) Boston Celtics, (4) son and Chris Webber will play Detroit Pistons, (5) Philadelphia well together, and are joined by 76ers, (6) New Jersey Nets, (7) Kyle Korver, Andre Igoudala, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Samuel Dalembert in a good(8)Washington Wizards. Surprislooking starting-five. The New ingly, the Atlanta Hawks, CharJersey Nets also have an impreslotte Bobcats, and Knicks won’t sive starting unit. The trio of Jamake the playoffs, and neither son Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and will the Toronto Raptors, ChiVince Carter in their first full cago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, or season together is a highlight reel Orlando Magic. The Eastern Conwaiting to happen, but the Nets ference is much improved from a need to improve their bench, esseason ago, but still plays second pecially after the Shareef Abdurfiddle to the far superior Western Rahim deal fell through. Conference. Till next time! ◙ Another team competing to

ESPN

Challenge of Making the Playoffs Just the Beginning of Yankee Woes much better hitting second-baseman than Womack, ,and to resurgences from fan favorites Tino Martinez and Jason Giambi. The offense now contributes a fair amount of run support. The Yankees have also emerged as a solid defensive team, with the notable exception of center Bernie Williams. ARod seems better as a

The Yankees put Taiwanese pitcher Chien Ming Wang into play in the hopes of pulling through to the playoffs. Agence France-Presse

third baseman, and Giambi’s defense, once seen as a joke by fans, has improved by leaps and bounds. Cano, the midseason call up, has proved to be nothing less than a very dependable second baseman, rarely making rookie mistakes. The rest of the Yankees have performed defensively just as fans have come to expect them to- like Yankees. The

real problems, however don’t lie with the Yankee’s outfield and basemen, they lie with their pitching staff. On paper the Yankees pitching staff looks like one of the most dominant in baseball. Yet, Yankees pitchers have been anything but dominant. The Yankee’s ace Randy Johnson, a Cy Young winner, future Hall of Famer, has struggled all season with consistency. Despite the Big Unit’s expected high strikeout count, he has for the most part been inefContinued on Page 11

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

tenders were defeated early in the tournament, leaving number 1seed Maria Sharapova, 4-seed Kim Clijsters, 3-seed Amelie have, next to Martina NavratiMauresmo, 2-seed Lindsay Davlova. To play him in this situaenport, 12tion, him being seed Mary towards the end Pierce, 6-seed The 2005 U.S. Open of his career, me Elena Demenbeing on the top was full of upsets, intieva, and 8 of my game, and spiring battles, and and 10-seeds getting the Serena and chance to play coming-of-age stories Venus Wilhim on such an that altered the modern liams. occasion, that's Kim Clijsters tennis world greatly. what I meant with was a name to it being really fear the draw. She’s an excepspecial today." tional strategist, strong, athletic On the women’s side, there and speedy, and is also very flexiwere fewer upsets, but still an ble, as she demonstrated by perexciting Open. Several top con-

The Open Draws to a Close Continued from Page 12

against mediocre ones. Despite Federer’s dominance, in the U.S. Open final almost all of the 24,000 people in Arthur Ashe stadium cheered on Agassi. He played an exceptional game, with very few errors, and even managed to win a set, before being broken 3 times in a row in the final and decisive set. Federer declared at the awards ceremony "It's the most special one for me, to play Andre in the final of the US Open. He's one of the only living legends in tennis we still

Page 11

September 21, 2005 Sports

forming splits in to reach distant balls. She beat Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and faced Mary Pierce in the final. The final was an easy win for her, earning her a $2.2 million prize. Thus ended the 2005 U.S Open, one of the four major Grand Slam tournaments and the largest prize in tennis. The weather favorable, the athletes ready, the courts inviting, and the crowds roaring, a better event was almost inconceivable. The players must have thought the same, because they gave their utmost for their glory and their fans all for the magnificent sport of tennis. ◙

Inspiration for the French National Team BY OSMAN NEMLI SPORTS EDITOR Following France’s World Cup win over the Brazil in the 1998 World Cup, Zinedine Zidane had found himself along with France as the leader in world soccer. In the unforgettable match Zidane scored two goals to lead France in a 3-0 upset victory over the favorites. Since that summer day in 1998, the French national team hasn’t done much of note in the soccer world. In fact, it hasn’t done anything. In the 2002 World Cup, France was a joke, scoring 0 goals in 3 games. Since that failure and another embarrassing result in the European Cup, the French have had to resort to drastic techniques. Since most of the World Cup winning team’s players, including Zidane, had continued their club careers after retiring from international soccer, Jacques Chirac, the president of France, asked Zidane to come back from retirement to break the losing streak of the French national team. How could anyone

sistent player capable of magic whenever he touches the ball. In the first game of his comeback, against the Ivory Coast, he not only pleased the fans but also disproved critics when he scored one of France’s goals. He has played for Cannes and Girondins of France and Juventus of Italy, and is now one of the many stars at the Yankees of coccer, Real Madrid of Spain. the Zinedine Zidane playing against Denmark in the 1998 World Although return of Zidane Cup. has spurred the French team into playing with more heart, they coming back from retirement and still lack the skill that was present saving the world. in the old team. One of these facAt age 33, Zidane isn’t extors is a build-up play. In the last actly what most soccer managers match against Ireland, France did would call young, but he is a connot have one single good build-up refuse a request from the president? Zidane was summoned by the French people like a hero

BBC

play like the Irish had, but still managed to find a fluke goal thanks to a lucky shot by Thierry Henry and the incapability of the Irish team to finish many of their plays.

Without a doubt, Zidane is one of the most prolific players to play soccer, being named FIFA player of the year three times. Whether the success by the French team is short-lived or the start of another World Cupwinning team, it is clear that if the luck of the French continues and if Switzerland and Ireland don’t step up, France will be going on to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Regardless of how long or short the term of the French national team will be, watching them try to find their past glory and replace it with a new glory will be entertaining. ◙

Yankee Woes Continued from Page 10

fective. Also worth noting is Johnson’s age, which has finally shown itself this season in the nagging back and knee injuries that may have led to Johnson’s struggles. The Yankee’s second pitcher, Mike Mussina, who is a career 200 game winner and 2,000 strikeout pitcher, has been the glue that has held the staff together this year. Despite his fair share of rough outings Mussina was the one the Yankees turned to when they most needed a win. With Mussina on the disabled list with a shoulder problem, it is still unclear whether he will be able to pitch at all during the postseason. The Yankees already face an

uphill battle in fighting and clawing their way past either the Red Sox, or at least the Indians for the wild card. Yet even if the Yankees do manage to make the playoffs, their troubles will have just begun. Just one bad start from a pitcher like Johnson or Mussina might be enough to knock the Yankees out of the division series. If the Yankees make it the American League Championship, however, they could afford to spread out some quality starts from Johnson, Mussina and possibly even Chacon, and hopefully they will receive some help from somewhere unexpected. Realistically speaking however, there really isn’t much a fan can expect of the 2005 Yankees this postseason. ◙

Got a favorite team? Follow a certain sport? Share your expertise at [email protected]

Page 12

September 21, 2005 Sports

The Open Draws to a Close BY ALEX MARGULIS STAFF WRITER As Roger Federer breezed through the last set of the U.S Open final against Andre Agassi, regret was the last thing on any fan’s mind. The 2005 Open was full of upsets, inspiring battles and coming-of-age stories that greatly altered the world of tennis. In men’s singles attention focused mainly on the American participants, including Andy Roddick, Robby Ginepri, James Blake and Andre Agassi. On the women’s side, the Russian women, the Williams sisters, the Belgians Clijsters and HeninHardenne and the American Lindsay Davenport drew the most press. A year after suffering severe injuries and mourning his father’s death from cancer, James Blake had come a long way from the hospital bed. He did quite well in a match against number 2 seed

Robert Federer defends his title at the U.S. Open. Reuters

Rafael Nadal in the second round, winning after a good fight. As a wild card, he wasn’t even ex-

pected to be much of a challenge, as Nadal is one of the most prominent and feared players in the world. The upset rivaled the defeat of Roddick, and put Blake’s name on the tongues of fans and players alike. After beating 19-seed Tommy Robredo, Blake played a childhood idol of his, number 7 seed Andre Agassi. Agassi had his own dream to fulfill, and defeated Blake in one of the most talked-about and emotional matches of the tournament. Robby Ginepri also turned heads with a number of consecutive wins that ended with a loss to Agassi in the semifinals. Along the way, he beat 29-seed Tommy Haas, 13-seed Richard Gasquet, and 8-seed Guillermo Coria. This was a incredible performance for the unseeded Ginepri, and the tennis world will surely see more of him. The last American left in the tournament, Andre Agassi, a living legend and 7-seed at age 35, attempted to win his third Open,

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD but lost in the finals to Roger Federer, whom some regard as the greatest player who ever lived. More than ten years older than all of his opponents, Agassi is very well-respected, even in his 20th consecutive U.S Open. His path to the finals was arduous, filled with long five-set matches against fellow Americans Blake and Ginepri, as well as Tomas Berdych and Xavier Malisse. A man loathed by some and regarded as the Achilles of tennis by others, Roger Federer has accomplished more at 24 than most tennis players have in their careers. With three straight Wimbledon wins, two straight U.S Open wins, an Australian Open win, 26 other titles, and plenty of semifinals and runner-ups, Federer has accumulated $18 million in prize money. He carried the flag for Switzerland at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and he is regarded by some, including his hero Pete Sampras, as being the greatest player to ever live. He has won all of his last 23 finals, meaning that he plays even better against top players than Continued on Page 11

Read what you like here? Want to participate in a publication? Come to The Stuyvesant Standard Recruitment Meeting! Thursday, September 22, 2005 Room 233 after 10th period